nuts4chic - the online women's lifestyle magazine

Vicky Hales-Dutton

Going Green With The Ewings!

The biggest problem is plastic. Many councils collect plastic milk or squash bottles for recycling but won’t accept yoghurt pots or ice cream cartons. Jennifer’s answer is to send yoghurt pots and other plastics to Callum’s school for use in art and craft lessons. And instead of plastic toy boxes, Callum and Ishbel keep their smaller toys in decorated shoe boxes.

Plastic solved many problems
for humankind but now we are
stuck with it and disposing of
it in a green way can present
its problems

Every little bit of recycling helps. Figures from nearby Wealden Council in East Sussex (which offers 101 handy hints to reduce waste) show that its local district recycled or composted 30 per cent of collected household waste in 2003 to 2004. This meant that that over 18,000 tonnes of materials were diverted from local landfill sites. That is just as well because council estimates show that both East Sussex’s landfill sites will be full within the next few years.

It’s thumbs up for Ecover –the green cleaning product manufacturers– in the Ewing household.

They did try using vinegar and water, but this was abandoned because of the pungent smell! Newsprint gets their windows “sparkling clean”.

The family hasn’t bought washing powder for years. Instead they use ecoballs. Voted one of the Ten Best Green Household Products in 2005 by The Independent, the three (naturally) anti-bacterial balls produce ionized oxygen that activates water molecules, allowing them to lift away dirt from clothes. Eco balls are favoured by allergy sufferers and, lasting for 1,000 washes they are also extremely cost-effective.

Wind power –courtesy of Ecotricity– supplies the Ewings’ electricity and they also use energy-saving light-bulbs.

''Think twice

before you buy

anything….do you

really need it, and

does it have to be

brand new?''

Their condensing boiler heats up water only when required while radiators are kept off in rooms not in use.

The family owns a car but Jennifer uses the train when she travels on business.

She feels they could do more –and they’re currently looking into the viability of solar panels for their home.

The last word goes to Jennifer: “What we’ve done is not rocket science. Everyone could easily do what we’ve done. But for us, being green is about reducing as well as recycling.”

Jennifer’s tips on how to live a greener life:

Do look around - there’s so much information, especially from local councils and on the Internet, on how to live a greener life.
Think twice before you buy anything….do you really need it, and does it have to be brand new?
Contacting the mailing preference service will save on unwanted paper.
Shop locally and use farmers’ markets – they use less packaging!
Spread the word about reducing waste and recycling to anyone who will listen!

If you’ve got any tips on green living, why not share them with other readers. Send your tips into us here at feedback@nuts4chic.com

Further information

www.wealden.gov.uk/Environment_and_Transport/Recycling/
Ways_to_Reduce_Waste/index.aspx

www.ecotricity.co.uk

www.insightecostore.com - for Eco-balls

www.wasteonline.org.uk - for help in getting rid of anything!

www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr - the Mailing Preference Service

www.polymer-reprocessors.co.uk - recycles DVDs and Cds

www.green-works.co.uk - for a small fee this charity collects and revamps old office furniture for charities and start-up businesses.

2 of 2

Continued Page 1 | 2